Adjustable-Height Base

ABSTRACT

An adjustable-height base for supporting a gaming machine, such as a slot machine, includes a top unit and a bottom unit. The top unit may be installed over the bottom unit and attached to the bottom unit at different locations to provide a base having an adjustable height. The top and bottom units are configured to accommodate hardware associated with gaming machines.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This invention relates generally to bases for supporting gamingmachines, such as slot machines. More particularly, the inventionrelates to an adjustable-height base for supporting a slot machine.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines found on casino floors, such as slot machines, come invarious shapes and sizes. For example, a typical slot machine cantypically have a height between three to five feet. Generally, casinosprovide bases to support slot machines and raise them off the floor to aheight suitable for casino patrons. Further, it is common for casinos toinstall all of the machines in a certain section of a gaming floor tothe same top height. Gaming machines grouped together in a section of agaming floor are set up to a uniform top height not only for aesthetics,but also to maintain the lines of sight to exit signs unobstructed.

When arranging a section of a gaming floor and determining the height ofthe bases to be used, casinos have to consider a number of factors,including: the types of gaming machines to be installed, the height ofeach type of machine, and the desired top height of the machines. Achange to any of these factors could require a change in the height ofthe bases necessary for the installation. Therefore, casinos often havethe bases custom made for each installation. Alternatively, casinos cankeep an inventory of bases having various heights. But both of theseoptions are costly for the casinos.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed a base and a method for supporting a gaming machineat various selectable heights. The base comprises a bottom unit and atop unit that vertically slides over the bottom unit and can be attachedto the bottom unit with fasteners at various heights.

According to one embodiment, the bottom unit has two opposing sidepanels and a kick plate; the top unit has two opposing side panels and atop plate. The opposing side panels of the bottom unit are joined in thefront by the kick plate and the opposing side panels of the top unit arejoined at the top by the top plate. The top unit can be vertically slidover the bottom unit such that the side panels of the top unit aredisposed over the side panels of the bottom unit. The top unit can beconnected to the bottom unit using fasteners through holes in the sidepanels.

A first unit (either the bottom or the top unit) has a series of holesaligned vertically on each of its side panels. A second unit (the otherof the either bottom or top unit) has at least one hole in each of itsside panels that can be aligned with one of the holes in the series ofholes in the first unit. The holes in the second unit can be alignedwith different holes in the series of vertically aligned holes in thefirst unit to achieve different base heights. The first and second unitscan be attached to each other at a particular height by aligningcorresponding holes in the side panels of the top and bottom units andinserting fasteners.

The maximum possible height adjustment of the base is defined by thedifference in height between the highest hole and lowest hole in a firstunit to which a second unit may be attached. And the possibleincremental height adjustments are defined by the differences in heightbetween adjacent holes in the series of holes in a first unit. Thus, theheights of the holes in the series of holes in a first unit may be setto control the maximum height adjustment and incremental heightadjustments available with a particular base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the side panels of thebottom unit and side panels and top plate of the top unit may each haveapertures for passing cables and wires.

Additional features and advantages will be made apparent from thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating theinvention, the drawings illustrate embodiments that are presentlypreferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of aheight-adjustable base with a bottom unit spaced apart from a top unit;

FIG. 2 illustrates the bottom unit of the height-adjustable base of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the top unit of the height-adjustable base of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembly of the height-adjustable base of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the Figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 aheight-adjustable base 10 comprising a bottom unit 20 and a top unit 30that can be joined together with fasteners 40. The fasteners 40 can beany conventional fasteners, such as screws, rivets, and nuts and bolts.As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the top unit 30 may be vertically slidover the bottom unit 20 and fastened to the bottom unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom unit comprises two opposing side panels202, a kick plate 204, and, optionally, a back plate 206. The opposingside panels 202 are joined in the front by a kick plate 204. Also, asshown, a back plate 206 may be optionally provided to join the two sidepanels 202 in the back.

In a preferred embodiment, the side panels 202, front plate 204, andback plate 206 of the bottom unit 20 are preferably made of sheet metaland are joined by riveting and/or welding to form a bottom unit 20shaped substantially like a rectangular box. Alternatively, the sidepanels 202, front plate 204, and back plate 206 of the bottom unit 20may be made of any other suitable material, such as wood, and can bejoined by any other conventional means, such as nailing and/or gluing.Also, the bottom unit 20 may have any other shape that is suitable forsupporting a gaming machine.

The side panels 202 of the bottom unit 20 each have at least one hole208 or at least one series of vertically aligned holes 208. In apreferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, each side panel 202 of thebottom unit preferably has two series of vertically aligned holes 209 aand 209 b that are disposed parallel to each other. Further, the sidepanels 202 may have apertures 210 for the passage of cables, wires, orother electrical hardware associated with gaming machines. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the apertures 210 are disposed on the topedge of the side panels 202, are generally u-shaped, and have an opentop end. The apertures, however, may have any other suitable shape andmay be disposed more centrally on the side panels 202 such that theaperture is a hole formed in the panel (not shown in the Figures).

The kick plate 204 may be sized to match the height of the side panels202 or it may be sized smaller than the full height of the side panels202, as shown in FIG. 2. The height of the back plate 206 may also beset to the full height of the side panels 202 or smaller. The back plate206 is, however, optional and may be excluded from the construction ofthe bottom unit 20.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the top unit 30 comprises two opposing sidepanels 302, a top plate 304, a front plate 306, and a back plate 308.The opposing side panels 302 are joined together at the top by the topplate 304, at the front by the front plate 306, and at the back by theback plate 308. The front plate 306 and back plate 308, however, areoptional and may be excluded from the construction of the top unit 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the side panels 302, top plate 304, frontplate 306, and back plate 308 of the top unit 30 are preferably made ofsheet metal and are joined by riveting and/or welding to form a top unit30 shaped substantially like a rectangular box. Alternatively, the sidepanels 302, top plate 304, front plate 306, and back plate 308 of thebottom unit 30 may be made of any other suitable material, such as wood,and can be joined by any other conventional means, such as nailingand/or gluing. Also, the bottom unit 30 may have any other shape that issuitable for supporting a gaming machine. The dimensions of the top unit30 along the X and Y axis of FIG. 3 preferably are larger than those ofthe bottom unit 20, and the shape of the top unit 30 complements theshape of the bottom unit 20, such that the top unit 30 may be verticallyslid over the bottom unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top plate 304 and the back plate 308 may haveapertures 312, 316 adapted to accommodate hardware associated withgaming machines, such as cables, wires, and cash collection systems. Andthe back plate 308 may further comprise holes 320 adapted to receivefasteners. The front plate 306 may have a hatch 318 for access tohardware, such as cables, wires, and cash collection systems, located inthe interior of the base 10. Brackets 322 may also be provided in theinterior of the top unit 30 for mounting hardware, such as cashcollection systems. The brackets 322 are preferably disposed on the sidepanels 302 of the bottom unit 30, but may be disposed on the front 306and back 308 plates of the bottom unit 30.

The side panels 302 of the top unit 30 have at least one hole 310 or atleast one series of vertically aligned holes 310. In a preferredembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, each side panel 302 of the top unit 30has two pairs of vertically aligned holes 309 a and 309 b that areparallel to each other, which align with the series of holes 209 a and209 b of the bottom unit 20 when the top unit 30 is installed over thebottom unit 20. In this regard, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the placementof the holes 310 in the side panels 302 corresponds to the placement ofthe holes 208 in the side panels 202, such that the holes 310 may bealigned with the holes 208 when the top unit 30 is vertically slid overthe bottom unit 20. In this embodiment, the pairs of holes 310 in thetop unit 30 may be aligned with and fastened to various holes 208 in thebottom unit to achieve various base 10 heights.

Described more broadly, the height-adjustment feature of the base 10 maybe provided by a first unit (either the bottom 20 or top 30 unit) havingat least one series of vertically aligned holes in each of its sidepanels, and a second unit (the other of the either bottom 20 or top 30unit) having at least one hole in each of its side panels. Preferably,in order to more easily determine the relative position of the bottom 20and top 30 units, one unit has the series of holes and the other unithas one or two holes. In other words, the series of holes may beprovided in the side panels 202 of the bottom unit 20 while the one ortwo holes may be provided in the side panels 302 of the top unit 30, orvice versa. It is, however, possible to provide the side panels 202, 302of both the bottom 20 and top 30 units with series of holes or with oneor two holes. The holes in the second unit can be aligned with differentholes in the series of vertically aligned holes in the first unit toachieve different base heights. The first and second units can beattached to each other at a particular height by aligning correspondingholes 208, 310 in the side panels 202, 302 of the bottom 20 and top 30units and inserting fasteners 40.

Additionally, height index strips 212 may be provided to indicate theheight of the base 10 or the relative position of the bottom 20 and top30 units. As shown in FIG. 2, the height-index strips 212 have holesthat correspond to the series 209 a, 209 b of vertically aligned holes208 in the side panels 202 of the bottom unit 20. The height-indexstrips 212 may be laid over the series 209 a, 209 b of verticallyaligned holes 208. Thus, when the holes 208, 310 of the bottom 20 andtop 30 units are aligned and fasteners 40 are inserted, the fasteners 40will pass though a corresponding hole in the height-index strip 212,indicating the height of the base or the relative position of the bottom20 and top 30 units. The height-index strips 212 make it easier toidentify the proper holes to insert the fasteners 40 to set up the base10 to a desired height. Alternatively, height indicia may be providedwith markings on the side panels 202, 302 adjacent to the holes 208,310.

Further advantages of the height-adjustable base 10 may be describedwith respect to methods of assembling the height-adjustable base 10. Theassembly of the base 10 begins by position the bottom unit 20 at adesired location on the floor and securing it to the floor. The top unit30 is then fit over the bottom unit 20 to a desired height where theholes 310 of the top unit 30 are aligned with the holes 208 of thebottom unit 20. Once the holes 208, 310 of the bottom 20 and top units30 are aligned at a desired height, fasteners 40 are inserted throughthe holes 208, 310 to secure the bottom 20 and top 30 units together.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the final assembly, the side panels 302 of thetop unit 30 vertically slide over the side panels 202 of the bottom unit20, such that the apertures 210, 314 overlap substantially to create anopening for passing hardware, such as cables and wires. Also, as shown,the front plate 306 of the top unit 30 vertically slides over the kickplate 204 of the bottom unit to completely cover the front side of thebase 10. Hence, the kick plate 204 may be only as high as the bottomedge of the front plate 306 and still cover the front side of the base10. It is, however, preferable for there to be at least a one inchoverlap between the kick plate 204 of the bottom unit 20 and the frontplate 306 of the top unit 30. Thus, although the kick plate 204 need notbe as high as the side panels 202 of the bottom unit, it should be atleast one inch taller than the maximum height of the bottom edge of thefront plate 306 of the top unit 30.

Once a first base 10 has been positioned and assembled, subsequent bases10 can be positioned adjacent to the first base 10, either back to backor side to side, and attached to each other. Two bases 10 may beattached to each other side to side by inserting fasteners through theholes 208, 310 in the side panels 202, 302 of one base 10 and into theholes 208, 310 in the side panels 202, 302 of an adjacent base 10. Theapertures 210, 314 of bases 10 that are connected side to side arepreferably aligned such that cables and wires can be passed through theapertures 210, 314 of a series of connected bases 10. Also, bases 10 maybe connected back to back by inserting fasteners through the holes 320in the back plate 308 of one base 10 and into the holes 320 in the backplate 308 of another base 10. The apertures 316 of bases 10 that areconnected back to back are preferably aligned such that cables and wirescan be passed between connected bases 10.

According to another aspect of the invention, not shown in the Figures,cover panels may be provided and attached to the front, back, or sidesof an assembled base 10. Means for attaching (not shown) the coverpanels to the base 10 are preferably disposed on the side panels 302,front plate 306, and back plate 308 of the top unit 30. The means forattaching the cover panels may include holes for inserting fasteners.The cover panels preferably have graphics and provide a more finishedappearance to areas of the base 10 that are exposed. For example, when aseries of bases are connected to one another side by side, the exposedsides of the bases at the ends of the series may be covered with coverpanels. Further, the front of the bases may also be covered with coverpanels.

While systems and methods have been described and illustrated withreference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art willrecognize that modification and variations may be made without departingfrom the principles described above and set forth in the followingclaims. For example, although the height adjustment function of the base10 has been described with reference to the embodiments depicted in theFigures, it should be recognized that the height-adjustment function ofthe present invention may be achieved by various embodiments havingdifferent combinations and arrangements of height-adjustment holes 208,310. In fact, the holes 208, 310 need not be placed in the side panels202, 302 as shown and may instead be placed in the kick plate 204, backplates 206, 308, and front plate 306. Accordingly, reference should bemade to the following claims as describing the scope of disclosedembodiments.

1. An adjustable-height base for supporting a slot machine, the basecomprising: a) a bottom unit including: a pair of opposing sides, eachone of the sides having an aperture for a cable chase; and a front thatincludes a kick plate in a lower portion thereof that extends betweenthe sides; b) a top unit configured to vertically slide over the bottomunit, the top unit being independent from the bottom unit, the top unitincluding: a pair of opposing sides; a top plate for receiving a slotmachine, the top plate including an aperture for receiving cabling; c)at least one of the top unit sides and the bottom unit sides beingconfigured for fastening to an adjacent adjustable-height base unit; d)at least one of the top unit sides and the bottom unit sides having aseries of vertical first holes, the sides of the other one of the topunit and the bottom unit having at least one second hole, the secondhole aligning with the first holes to enable insertion of fasteners inthe holes to affix the top unit to the bottom unit at plural verticalpositions relative to the bottom unit; and e) at least a portion of thekick plate being exposed when the top unit is not in its lowermostvertical position, the kick-plate having a height that is greater thanthe maximum dimension of adjustment of the top unit.
 2. Theadjustable-height base of claim 1 wherein the series of first holes islocated in the bottom unit sides and the second hole is located in thetop unit sides.
 3. The adjustable-height base of claim 2 wherein furthercomprising, on each side, a fastener inserted through the second holeand through one of the series of first holes for affixing the top unitand the bottom unit together.
 4. The adjustable-height base of claim 3wherein the fastener is configured to be inserted through correspondingholes in an adjacent adjustable-height base to affixed the basestogether.
 5. The adjustable-height base of claim 2 wherein the top unitsides further includes a vertical series of holes that aligns with thevertical series of holes in the bottom unit sides.
 6. Theadjustable-height base of claim 1 wherein the maximum dimension ofadjustment of the top unit is defined by the height of the series offirst holes.
 7. The adjustable-height base of claim 1 wherein each oneof the top unit sides have an aperture for the cable chase, the top unitside apertures aligning with the bottom unit side apertures when the topunit is affixed to the bottom unit.
 8. The adjustable-height base ofclaim 1 further comprising a back having holes for fastening to a backof another adjustable-height base.
 9. The adjustable-height base ofclaim 1 wherein each one of the holes is spaced apart by one inch suchthat the height of the base is adjustable in one inch increments. 10.The adjustable-height base of claim 1 further comprising an end panel tocover one of the sides when exposed.
 11. The adjustable-height base ofclaim 1 wherein the series of first holes is located in the sides of thelower unit and
 12. A method of using adjustable height bases, comprisingthe steps of: a) providing a first and second adjustable height base,each one of the first and second bases comprising: a bottom unitincluding: a pair of opposing sides, each one of the sides having anaperture for a cable chase; and a front that includes a kick plate in alower portion thereof that extends between the sides; a top unitconfigured to vertically slide over the bottom unit, the top unit beingindependent from the bottom unit, the top unit including: a pair ofopposing sides; a top plate for receiving a slot machine, the top plateincluding an aperture for receiving cabling; at least one of the topunit sides and the bottom unit being configured for fastening to anadjacent adjustable-height base unit; at least one of the top unit sidesand the bottom unit sides having a series of vertical first holes, thesides of the other one of the top unit and the bottom unit having atleast one second hole, the second hole aligning with the first holes toenable insertion of fasteners in the holes to affix the top unit to thebottom unit at plural vertical positions relative to the bottom unit;and at least a portion of the kick plate being exposed when the top unitis not in its lowermost vertical position, the kick-plate having aheight that is greater than the maximum dimension of adjustment of thetop unit. b) positioning the bottom units adjacent one another; c)positioning the top units over the bottom units at a desired verticalposition; d) installing fasteners through the second holes of adjacentsides of the bases to affix them together; e) installing cabling throughthe cable chases and through the top plate apertures; e) installing slotmachines onto the top plates; and f) installing an end plate over an endside of at least one of the bases to cover the aperture of the side. 13.The method of claim 12 wherein in the installing step d), singlefasteners extend through holes in the adjacent bottom units andcorresponding holes in corresponding top units.